Thanks for your interest in Penn Alternate Spring Break! Please note that this application is for GRADUATE students only. If you are an undergraduate student interested in applying for ASB, please see:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dG1wVW4taXJWZW1sUEYyLW5BRF80d2c6MA#gid=0This year, Penn ASB will sponsor seven community service trips to locations around the nation. ASB is an incredible civic engagement opportunity—one that will largely define your time here at Penn.
Below, you will find descriptions of our seven trip locations. Please read these descriptions carefully, as you will be asked to rank your top choices in the application.
Please note that financial aid is available on need basis. Financial aid applications will be released upon acceptance to ASB.
The deadline for this application is Friday, November 2nd at 11:59 PM. We look forward to reading your application.
Habitat Sites:
Almost Heaven - WV
An ASB favorite! We return year after year! Participants will travel to Pendleton County, WV to work with the region's local Habitat for Humanity Affiliate. Located in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, the site offers participants the opportunity to delve deeply into the issue of poverty, which affects many of the county's residents. The Penn group will also have the opportunity to bond with and build alongside students from other schools and to explore the local town.
New Bern - NC
Located just east of Raleigh, New Bern, NC is a bustling coastal city. Participants will assist the area's Habitat for Humanity Affiliate in the construction of its 53rd home. Penn students will have to opportunity to learn about the economic challenges facing the city's 30,000 residents, many of whom are political refugees from Southeast Asia. Participants will also enjoy the many attractions available in and around New Bern, including the area's renowned beaches.
New Orleans - LA
This spring, 12 students will travel to New Orleans, LA to assist in the construction of several houses. Participants will get to explore areas of the city which have still not recovered from Hurrican Katrina and will get to engage in meaningful interactions with the city's residents. In their off time, students will enjoy many of the area's countless attractions, including the Louisiana bayous, the historic St. Charles Avenue streetcars, and the bustling French Quarter.
Lexington - VA
Participants will travel to Lexington, VA in Rockbridge County to build several houses for the some of the city's 7,000 inhabitants. Located just east of the West Virginia border, Lexington is a city steeped in Civil War history and is the home to both the Virginia Military Institute and Washington & Lee University. Participants will be able to bond deeply with the city's residents, who are extremely supportive of Habitat for Humanity initiatives in the region.
Breakaway Sites:
Everglades - FL
Come volunteer in the Everglades, a beautiful and sunny Florida location! We've been returning to this particular spot for 14 years! We'll be staying at the amazing Everglades hostel which has a pond you can swim in, swings and ropes galore, and a tree house. You can even sleep outside under the stars! There will be a lot of exciting volunteer opportunities as well. This year we'll be doing environmental work at Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park. We'll also be going to the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center. Their mission is to rescue and rehabilitate wild birds. You'll have a great time seeing (and hearing) all the birds.
Liberty Hall - VA
Love cute farm animals? Then Liberty Hall Animal Rescue is the perfect trip for you this Spring. Located in Paris, Virginia, this "sanctuary for rescued livestock" is just a quick drive away; save all the hassle of a flight, enjoy some car sing alongs and make great friends before you even arrive! There is a ton of work to be done at Liberty Hall, and with the flexible staff your group can choose the perfect project. Some late night smores over a camp fire, funny stories, and the delicious dinner you get to make yourselves will no doubt be a Spring Break experience you'll never forget.
Abilene - TX
New this year! We are going to Abilene, Texas to work with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), an organization that helps refugees of humanitarian crises survive and rebuild their lives. The Abilene IRC works with refugees from Bhutan, Burma, Iraq, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Service activities involve assisting with an ESL/Civics class and helping at a donation fair where IRC clients can take home free household goods.